ALMOST one-in-four primary one children in the Borders are overweight - and one-in-ten are considered either obese or severely obese by clinicians.

Figures published this week shows that of the 964 four- and five-year-olds weighed this year, 22.7 percent (219) weighed above the guideline parameters.

The checks also found of the overweight youngsters, 88 were considered to be obese.

The 2018/19 figures are the second highest recorded for the region in more than a decade with only the 2009/10 weigh-in recording more overweight primary one pupils.

The latest Borders figures also put the region above the national average for the first time in five years.

Cancer UK has reacted to this week's figures by issuing a warning to all parents.

Professor Linda Bauld, Cancer Research UK’s prevention expert at the University of Edinburgh, said: “It’s shocking so many very young children are at risk of being overweight or obese.

“But it doesn’t need to be like this.

"The Scottish Government has a role to play here and must ensure that planned legislation to restrict junk food promotions is introduced and passed before the next Scottish Parliament elections.

“Our shopping environment has a big influence on what we buy with special offers and multibuys on junk food powerfully persuading us to stock up on unhealthy items.

“Obesity is the second biggest preventable cause of cancer after smoking so tackling this is crucial if we’re to improve the health of future generations.”